I know this figure came out a long time ago. Sadly, I pre-ordered and cancelled it a couple of times. Looking back, I know it was cost because initially, the retail was $130, and I just talked myself out of buying it. Thankfully, as time has passed, the price has reduced, and I now have this in my collection. I can now admit... I'm glad I had the opportunity one more time because I regret not buying this one sooner!
The Medicom Mafex #235 Peter B. Parker action figure is a love letter to fans of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This figure brilliantly captures the essence of the character, from his laid-back personality to his mismatched, yet endearing, superhero attire. Let's dive into the review, focusing on Accessories, Appearance, Articulation, and Affordability.
Accessories: 10/10
Medicom went all out with the accessories for this figure, offering an impressive array of items that provide endless posing possibilities.
Head Sculpts: There are three distinct head sculpts included: an unmasked Peter B. Parker, a partially masked head with his face visible, and two fully masked Spider-Man head. Each sculpt captures a unique aspect of the character, from the weary expression of the unmasked head to the slightly askew mask, showcasing his casual demeanor. The masked sculpts have wide open and more narrowed eye pieces, giving the webslinger more expressive looks.
Webbing Accessories: The figure comes with six web lines. Two short thwipping lines, two longer thwipping lines, and two swinging lines.
Soft Goods: Peter's trademark green coat is made of soft fabric, giving a realistic drape over his body and enhancing the overall aesthetic without hindering articulation. The edges are wired, which makes posing an absolute blast. His gray sweatpants are easy to put on and remove and really don't hinder articulation much at all.
Hands: The figure includes eight pairs of interchangeable hands, providing a wide range of expressive possibilities. These include:
Standard relaxed hands.
Web-slinging hands.
Fist hands.
Open palms.
Hands designed to hold the included accessories, such as the coffee cup, mask, and slice of pizza.
Interchangeable Legs: You can switch out his superhero legs for a more casual look, complete with mismatched shoes—a sneaker on one foot and a boot on the other. This feature captures his unique, thrown-together style from the movie.
Magnetic Hands and Feet: This set of magnetic hands and feet allows for wall-crawling poses, enhancing the display options and making it easy to attach the figure to metal surfaces for dynamic shots.
Bare Feet Accessories: The figure also includes bare feet accessories, adding another layer of versatility and detail to his relaxed, "just woke up" aesthetic.
Pizza Slice, Mask, & Hand holding Coffee Cup: No Peter B. Parker figure would be complete without his quintessential slice of pizza and a cup of coffee. The pizza can be held in one of the gripping hands, perfect for recreating scenes of him in a less-than-super state. The mask has a small hole in the top, which plugs into one of the two pegged gripping hands.
Appearance: 9.5/10
The sculpt and paint applications are excellent. The head sculpts are particularly well-done, with each conveying a different emotion and level of dishevelment. The paintwork is clean, with the unmasked face featuring a slight stubble effect and subtle shading around the eyes, adding depth to his expression.
The body sculpt accurately depicts Peter's slightly out-of-shape physique, a departure from the typical superheroic build, making this figure stand out in any collection. The detailing on the mismatched shoes—one a red sneaker, the other a brown boot—is sharp and precise. The addition of the soft goods coat and sweats, which fit snugly over the figure without looking bulky, adds to the overall visual appeal.
Articulation: 9/10
The Medicom Mafex #235 Peter B. Parker action figure boasts impressive articulation and engineering, making it one of the most poseable and expressive figures on the market. Designed to replicate the unique animation style and dynamic movements seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this figure features a range of joints and engineering techniques that provide exceptional flexibility and stability. Below is a detailed breakdown of its articulation and engineering features.
Head and Neck
Ball-peg System: The head is mounted on a double ball-peg system, allowing for a wide range of motion. The neck joint provides extensive tilting, rotation, and forward/backward movement, enabling the figure to achieve expressive poses, such as looking up during web-slinging or down in contemplation.
Interchangeable Heads: The head sculpts swap easily without compromising stability or articulation. The double ball joint ensures that all three head sculpts (unmasked, partially masked, and fully masked) fit securely and can be adjusted for subtle head tilts and expressions.
Shoulders and Arms
Ball-hinge Shoulders: The figure features ball-hinge joints at the shoulders with an integrated butterfly joint system. This combination allows for a natural range of motion, including forward and backward movement as well as extended lateral reach, perfect for dynamic web-slinging poses.
Butterfly Joints: The butterfly joints enable the arms to move closer together or extend outward, mimicking the natural shoulder movement required for crossover poses, such as crossing his arms or bringing his hands together.
Bicep Swivel: There is a bicep swivel integrated into the upper arm, allowing for 360-degree rotation, which is essential for twisting and turning poses.
Double-jointed Elbows: The double-jointed elbows provide a deep bend, letting the figure’s arms fold tightly towards the shoulders, ideal for action poses or holding the included coffee cup or slice of pizza.
Ball-hinged Wrists: Each wrist is mounted on a ball-hinge joint, offering both rotation and pivoting. This flexibility is crucial for achieving various hand poses, from web-shooting gestures to relaxed, open palm stances.
Torso and Waist
Ball-peg Upper Torso: The upper torso features a ball-peg joint, allowing for smooth rotation, tilting, and crunching. This joint helps in replicating the fluid, exaggerated movement of the character from the film, enabling deep crunches for crouched poses or arching back for web-slinging.
Ball-peg Lower Waist: The lower waist joint is similarly constructed with a ball-peg system, providing additional range for twisting and side-to-side movement. Combined with the upper torso articulation, it creates a natural-looking bend and twist that enhances the figure’s overall flexibility.
Soft Goods Integration: The fabric coat is tailored to fit the torso perfectly without restricting the figure’s movement. The coat is designed with slits at the back and sides, allowing for maximum articulation while maintaining a clean silhouette.
Hips and Legs
Ball-jointed Hips: The figure’s hips are constructed with ball joints that allow for a wide range of motion, including forward kicks, backward extension, and outward splits, unfortunately, the splits aren't as deep as I'd like. This is particularly useful for recreating agile poses and Spider-Man’s iconic web-swinging positions.
Thigh Swivel: A hidden swivel at the upper thigh allows the legs to rotate somewhat independently, enabling more dynamic stances and transitions between action poses.
Double-jointed Knees: The double-jointed knees allow for a deep bend, essential for crouching and kneeling poses. The range is excellent, providing a natural bend without the joints looking overly exposed or unnatural.
Interchangeable Legs: The figure includes a set of interchangeable legs—one set for his casual look with mismatched footwear (a sneaker and a boot) and one set for his fully suited Spider-Man look. Swapping the legs is seamless, with a sturdy connection point that maintains the integrity of the figure’s poseability.
Ankles and Feet
Ball-hinged Ankles: The ankles feature a ball-hinge joint that allows for pivoting and rotation. This joint is critical for achieving stable stances, especially in action poses that require the feet to be firmly planted.
Ankle Rocker: An ankle rocker system is integrated into the design, allowing the feet to tilt side-to-side. This is particularly helpful for posing the figure in more dynamic stances, such as balancing on one leg or crouching.
Interchangeable Feet and Magnetic Options: The figure includes several foot options, including bare feet, mismatched sneaker and boot feet, and magnetic feet. The magnetic feet are particularly impressive, allowing the figure to be posed on metal surfaces in wall-crawling or upside-down poses, adding a unique display option not typically seen in other figures.
Overall, the articulation and engineering of the Mafex #235 Peter B. Parker figure are top-notch, providing collectors with a highly poseable and expressive representation of the character. Whether posed in a relaxed stance or an intense web-slinging action shot, this figure’s articulation allows for almost limitless creativity.
Affordability: 8/10
As with most Mafex figures, the Peter B. Parker figure comes at a premium price. Thankfully, with the re-release of the figure, the pricing has dropped somewhat, and I was able to get one on BBTS for $94.99. They are still available as of this writing. However, considering the wealth of accessories, the quality of the sculpt and paint applications, and the unique features like magnetic hands and feet, it justifies the cost. For dedicated Spider-Verse fans and collectors who appreciate attention to detail, this figure is worth the investment. That said, it might be a bit pricey for casual collectors or younger fans.
Overall, the Medicom Mafex #235 Peter B. Parker figure is a standout addition to any Spider-Man or Into the Spider-Verse collection. Its detailed sculpting, abundant accessories, and high-quality articulation make it a versatile and visually appealing piece. While the price point is high, the quality and range of options offered more than justify the cost. For fans of the character and the movie, this is an essential figure that captures the heart and humor of Peter B. Parker perfectly. I'm very pleased to give this figure a solid:
9.25 out of 10 ToyBoxes!
This is really a slick figure... don't make my mistake and sleep on it, especially if you're a Spider-Man fan! Until next time... GEEK OUT!!!